The district police organised a one-day awareness programme at the remote Hardoli and Chhatrala panchayats in Borigumma (Odisha state) police limits on Sunday to check human trafficking and to check inter-state migration of labour through unauthorised brokers. "Being lured by agents about greener pastures in other states, minor tribal girls and those residing in interior parts of the district migrate to distant places. However, in most of cases, they end up in misery. While in some cases they are not paid, there are instances where they are subject to physical assault by the employer," said Sagarika Nath, trainee IPS officer posted at Borigumma police station. "As a result, we made this attempt to make the people aware about the precautionary measures that they should take while leaving their areas with agents," she said. Over 500 villagers who attended the camp at Hardoli were advised to verify the authentication of the agent, whether they had an authorised licence, before leaving with them. "We asked the villagers to inquire in detail about the nature of work that the agents were offering them in other states and also to inform the nearest police station about the agent," Nath said. Nath said the police gave the villagers the phone numbers of various officers and police stations and urged them to inform the cops whenever they suspected foul play. The police said the awareness campaign would be spared across the district, especially at all railway stations and bus stands, in the coming days. These are the main points of transportation of labour from the district to other states, the police said. "The police have taken a welcome step by generating awareness against human trafficking. Koraput has virtually been converted into a hub for human trafficking," said Ajit Patra, a Jeypore-based activist. Last month, police had rescued 19 minor girls from a bus while there were being trafficked by two agents to Vishakapatnam in Andhra Pradesh for work from Borigumma.
Link : https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/odisha/awareness-drive-to-curb-human-trafficking-238400